Chip and Joanna Gaines Donated $1.5 Million and Built a Playhouse for St. Jude
Updated: Jul. 10, 2019
Chip and Joanna Gaines went out to support the children of St. Jude in a big way.
We’ve been big fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines ever since their hit TV show Fixer Upper first aired on HGTV. Now, we have even more reason to love them. The crafty couple recently presented St. Jude Children’s Hospital with a jaw-dropping $1.5 million donation. But they didn’t stop there.
The St. Jude Playhouse
Chip and Joanna Gaines made their way to Memphis, Tennessee on June 19 with plans to make a generous gift. Better yet, they also had blueprints for a personally designed playhouse complete with windows, dining room furniture and a flower-adorned walkway.
The playhouse features flower boxes and a kitchen area, which is pretty on-brand for the recipe loving duo. Joanna says, “When we were designing this playhouse, we knew we wanted it to feel whimsical and fun—that was the inspiration behind details like the colorful flowers in the flower boxes and the sweet kitchen area.” She adds, “Our hope is that this space brings a bit of joy to the families here.”
This playhouse is surely the envy of all make-believe loving tots. You’ll want to bring a budget-friendly Build-a-House to your own backyard!
The Generosity of the Gaines Family
The original goal was to raise $230,000 for St. Jude, but when a family friend entered end-of-life care for salivary gland cancer, Joanna and Chip knew they needed to do more. Instead, the goal was shifted to $500,000, and Chip added he would match all donations with a donation of his own to the Brave Like Gabe foundation. The next day, Chip and Joanna suffered the loss of their friend, which inspired them to present $1.5 million to help St. Jude in their fight for the cure.
See some of Joanna’s decorating ideas for small bathrooms here.
In regard to the donation, Chip says, “Cancer is ugly and it is mean and it doesn’t fight fair. This has gotten extremely personal.” Thanks to their generosity and the generosity of others, families at St. Jude never have to pay a bill for treatment, housing, travel or food. You can donate to St. Jude here.
Plus: How to Build a Classic Playhouse.
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